Separator with automatic discharge



June 28, 1966 B. LEY 3,258,121

SEPARATOR WITH AUTOMATIC DISCHARGE Filed March 7, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1INVE/W'OF June 28, 1966 B. LEY 3,258,121

SEPARATOR WITH AUTOMATIC DISCHARGE Filed March 7, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2BER/\IHHRD My United States Patent 3,258,121 SEPARATOR WITH AUTOMATICDISCHARGE Bernhard Ley, Bollingen, Elisabethfehn, Germany Filed Mar. 7,1962, Ser. No. 178,114 Claims priority, application Germany, Apr. 19,1961, L saws; Jan. 23, 1962, L 41,028 2 Claims. (Cl. 209-160) It isknown that in the dredging of rivers and harbours, for example, the sandto be dredged out is washed by the dredges into special boats and thatthe mixture in this case consists of more water than sand, so that themixture cannot be lifted out of the tow-boat with a load-grab but has tobe pumped out of it and washed onto the slimereceiving ground. In thisprocess, considerable time elapses before the water has run off thisground or has evaporated. This method is obviously uneconomical.

To remedy this considerable drawback, an automatic quantity-regulator issuggested, particularly for mixtures of sand and water, and according tothe invention this consists of a funnel-shaped container which issituated in a mobile framework and which can be moved in the manner of aweighing-machine, by means, for example, of a bent-lever (toggle)system, and of which the outletaperture can be opened and closed by thevalve-cone of a movable rod passing through the central axis of thefunnel, the other end of the rod being provided with a stop, such as adisc, against which the loaded lever-arms of the bent-lever system pressfrom below when a certain preselected weight is reached, thus raisingthe rod and releasing the outlet-aperture of the funnel-shaped containeruntil equilibrium between the contents of the container and the load onthe lever-arm is restored by weights. In this system the upper edge ofthe funnel-shaped container has a collecting-channel which is providedwith dischargepipes. The funnel-shaped container is movably suspended onat least three and preferably on four lever-systems. The free upper endof the rod is equipped with a leversystem to enable the rod to beoperated. A water-mixing battery with a water-feed and a water-drainpipe is provided on the funnel-shaped container.

The mixture of sand and water is preferably washed into thefunnel-shaped container by a suction-pump and via an inlet-pipe. Thatsand in the mixture which is heavier than the water therein depositsitself in the tip of the funnel-shaped container, and when thevalve-cone of the rod is raised the sand is able to emerge through adischarge-pipe and be deposited separately. The lighter sand, on theother hand, flows with the water, via the collecting-channel provided onthe. inlet-aperture of the funnel-shaped container, into thedischarge-pipe situated in this latter, and when it emerges from thereit can likewise be deposited separately. v The automaticquantity-regulator to which the invention relates can be used for anumber of purposes, e.g. in thickening washable masses of earth such asoccur in the dredging of rivers and harbours and in the building of asolid embankment through the flats.

The sphere of application of the quantity-regulator to which theinvention relates naturally extends to dry irrigable substances such asgrain, small coal etc. In such cases it is desirable to operate with theuse of air.

In a particularly eflicient embodiment, for the use of sand, gravel andwater, the valve-rod for feeding the water in from above is alsoconstructed as a tube and is provided with rows of holes atpredetermined distances around its periphery, which holes can be closedor opened as desired by the rotation of a tubular star which has anumber of arms corresponding to the number of holes in one of the rows,the free ends being connected with a circular distributor-pipe which isprovided with outlet- 3,258,121 Patented June 28, 1966 holes at thebottom. The pipe bears a vertically adjustable cylindrical fioat ofrhomboid longitudinal section and having a central aperture of asomewhat greater diameter than the diameter of the pipe itself, whichfloat can be aflixed to the pipe by means, for example, of setscrews.The float has an inletand an outlet-aperture which can be closed byscrews, and its periphery is fitted, at predetermined distances, withangular struts, of which the free upper ends bear a ring which can bemoved up and down them. The float also bears a peripheral ring of anelastic material such as rubber. Damming-up of the material to beprocessed is avoided by the use of the elastic and thus flexiblematerial for this purpose.

This design ensures accurate separation of the light components of themixture from the heavy constituents.

One embodiment of the automatic quantity-regulator to which theinvention relates is shown in,

FIGURE 1 as a lateral view, and in FIGURE 2 as a view from the top, asschematic diagrams.

FIGURE 3 shows a lateral view, partly in section, of a particularlyefficient embodiment, for the use of sand, gravel and water, in aschematic diagram, the individual components of this constructionalversion being indicated by darker lines than those of the constructionalversion shown in FIG. 1.

In FIGS. 1 and 2 there is shown mobile stand 1, fitted with rollers 2,and a funnel-shaped container 3 which is suspended, by means of a togglesystem comprising four levers 4 and 5, and bearings 6, in the manner ofa weighing-machine, so that the container is movable in the verticalplane. The longer lever-arms 5 of the toggle system are provided withslidably adjustable counter-weights 7. The free ends of the lever-arms 5are provided with segment-shaped plates 8, as abutments for a shoulderstop 9, fixedly mounted on a valve rod 10 which passes through thecentral axis of the funnel-shaped container 3. The lower end of rod 10is formed with a valve cone 11 entering the outlet-aperture at thebottom of the container. The upper end of the rod 10 is also providedwith another lever-arm 12, which is pivotably mounted on a fulcrum 13,the free end of which is provided with a chain 14.

By means of a suction-pump, not shown in the diagram, the mixture ofsand 15 and water 16 is introduced into the funnel-shaped container 3via an inlet-pipe 17. The sand of the mixture which is heavier than thewater of the mixture collects in the tip of the funnel-shaped container,and when the sealing-tip 11 of the rod 10 is raised the said sand canemerge through the outlet-pipe 18 and be deposited separately. Thelighter sand flows, with the water 16, and through thecollecting-channel 21 provided at the inlet-aperture of thefunnel-shaped container, into the discharge-pipes 19 provided in thesaid channel, and when it emerges from here it can likewise be depositedseparately. A feed pipe 23 and a drain pipe conduit 22 are provided,these being interconnected at 20 with a combined water-feed and drainsystem (not shown) for the selective introduction drainage of water intothe container. The upper end of pipe 22 is fitted with atoroidally-shaped apertured head loosely placed around the rod 10.

The quantity-regulator can be used for a number of purposes, eg in thethickening of washable masses of earth such as occur in the dredging ofrivers and harbours or in the building of a solid embankment through theflats. In this process, the mixture of relatively little sand 15 and alarge quantity of water 16, which mixture is well known to be veryfluid, is pumped through the inlet-pipe 17 into the container 3, inwhich process the heavier sand is collected in the tip of thefunnel-shaped container 3,

while the lighter sand flows out again with the water 16 through thecollecting-channel 21 and through the outletpipe 19. As soon as apre-determined weight of sand 15 has collected in the funnel-shapedcontainer 3, the dead weight of the sand 15 presses the funnel-shapedcontainer 3 downwards and the toggle lever-system 46 pushes thesegment-shaped plates 8 upwards against the disc 9, which pulls the rod10 upwards, thus releasing the valve-cone 11 from the outlet aperture ofthe funnel-shaped container, so that the sand can move from the saidaperture into the outlet-pipe 18. Any surplus quantities of waterpresent in the funnel can be tapped off in advance, via drain pipe 22.The rod 10 can also be operated manually by the lever-system 12, 13.

The quaitity-regulator to which the invention relates can also be usedfor sorting the sand according to grainsizes, as is required in theporcelain industry, the ceramics industry, the concrete industry and inconcrete buildings. In these cases the mixture of sand 15 and water 16is washed into the funnel-shaped container 3, as already described. Inaddition water 16 is introduced, at a certain pre-selected pressure viathe feed-pipe 23, into the sand 15 present in the container 3. Thepressure of the water being selected in such a way that thelarge-grained sand remains in the funnel-shaped container, as a resultof its own weight, while the medium-grained, fine-grained and dust-like(very fine-grained) sand with the water 16 flows into thecollecting-channel 21 and the discharge-pipes 19, which in this case,however, are connected with a second quantity-regulator of the samekind, in which the introduced water is set at yet a different pressurelevel so that the medium-grained sand remains in the second containerand the fineand very fine-grained sand flow off, as described before, tostill a third quantity-regulator, in which, finally, the fineand veryfine-grained sand are separated from each other. In all three units, orin four or more as required, the funnel-shaped container 3 functions,with the bent-lever system 4-7, as a weighing-machine, when a certainpre-selected quantity of the large-grained, mediumgrained, fine-grainedor dust-like (very fine-grained) sand has collected in the funnel 3, thesand automatically emerging from the outlet-pipe 18 when a certainpreselected weight is exceeded. The quantity-regulators connected inseries will preferably be of different sizes.

A further example for the application of the quantityregulator accordingto the invention is the washing and cleaning of dirty sand, as isnecessary in the cement industry, the porcelainand ceramics-industry andin the erection of buildings of stones and earth. In such cases, themixture of sand 15 and water 16 is pumped, as described, through theinlet-pipe 17 into the funnel-shaped container 3, in which case thedirty water flows off via the collecting-channel 21 and the outlet-pipes19 into the open. As soon as a certain pre-selected quantity of sand ispresent in the container, the feed from the inlet-pipe 17 is shut off,and the dirty water present above the sand is conveyed away via thedrain pipe 22 water feed and drain system is switched over to supplyclean water through the feed pipe 23. The pressure of the water-feedmust be made such that the sand present in the container 3 is vigorouslymixed by a swirling action. In this process the dirty water againemerges, via the collecting channel 21 and the outlet-pipes 19, into theopen. This washing process must be continued until the sand in thecontainer is sufficiently cleaned. The clean sand present in thecontainer can be conveyed through the outlet-pipe 18 by manual operationof the lever-system 10-13 or 14.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the valve-rod 10 is at the same timeconstructed as a tube 10a, and serves to feed in the water from the top.The tube is provided around its periphery and at predetermined distanceswith rows of holes 24 which can be closed or opened as desired byrotating a tubular star 25, which has a number of arms corresponding tothe number of holes in one of the rows, the free ends being connectedwith a circular distributortube which is provided at the bottom withoutlet-apertures 4 27a, so that by rotating the stars about the tube 10athe quantity of water can be regulated. 26 denotes a clip for closing oropening the uppermost row of holes 24a, which clip is only used in caseof need, when the stars are to be moved upwards by one row of holes.

The tube 10a bears a cylindrical float 28, which is of rhomboidlongitudinal section whose central opening has a somewhat largerdiameter than the external diameter of the tube itself, which float canbe moved upwards and downwards and affixed to the tube by means, forexample, of set-screws. The float is equipped with inletandoutlet-apertures 30 and 31, which can be closed by screws, and isprovided with a number of angular struts 32 at predetermined distancesover its periphery. The upper ends of struts 32 mount a verticallyadjustable ring 33 which serves to separate the material in the inletandthe outletdirection. The float also has a peripheral ring 34, of elasticmaterial, such as rubber.

The regulator shown in FIG. 3 serves exactly the same purposes as theregulator shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. It merely has special constructionalfeatures and is thus somewhat more suitable for separating thesand-mixtures (subdividing into different grain-sizes) than theregulator shown in FIG. 1. The regulator in FIG. 3 is suspended inexactly the same manner and has the same parts 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12and 13, as the regulator shown in FIG. 1. In FIG. 3 these parts havebeen omitted, in order to make the diagram clearer to refer to.

The pipe 10a is suspended in exactly the same manner as the rod 10 inFIG. 1. The float 28 is not always used as a float but also serves toreduce the effective cross section of the container 3, at the top of thelatter. The float can therefore also be filled with water by the aid ofthe apertures 30 and 31. The ring 34, too, serves to reduce the uppercross section of the container 3.

The regulator shown in FIG. 3 operates, in separating water-and-sandmixtures, in such a way that the mixture of water and sand is stirred upeddy-wise in the lower part of the container, so that the larger grainsof sand deposit themselves at the bottom, while the smaller grains ofsand flow off at the top, through the pipes 19. The mixture of sand andWater emerges from the pipe 17, flows along the side Wall of the float28 and the upper side of the ring 34, and flows downwards between thering 34 and the wall of the container 3. Additional water, which stirsup the sand, is introduced into the container, particularly through thering conduits 27 and, where necessary, through the pipe 23 as well. Thewater fed in at the bottom emerges from the top of the container, takingthe small grains of sand up with it. The flow of water emerging at thetop makes impact-particularly at the narrowest place between the ring 34and the wall of the containeron the water-and-sand mixture emerging fromthe pipe 17. Consequently, this narrowest part is likewise the scene ofan eddy-action, and most of the small grains of sand entering throughthe pipe 17 are immediately conveyed into the pipe 19.

The ring 33 is preferably a strip of sheet-metal of determined width. Byfilling with water, the float 28 can be regulated in such a manner thatat any given moment it is floating at that level which is required toensure that the top of ring 33 is just below the surface of the water.The ring can also be set to this level by means of the clampscrew 29.The purpose of the ring 33 is to obviate any eddying of the water on thesurface. The water emerging from the pipe 17 should not be allowed tocome in contact, on the surface of the water in the container, with thewater flowing upwards from the bottom of the container, for the largegrains of sand are required to move quickly downwards, past the ring 34.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for the separation of fluid mixtures, such as mixtures ofsand and water, comprising a frame and a funnel-shaped container, saidcontainer being provided with an exit aperture and a drain pipe at itsapex, a tubular central shaft having a valve member at the end thereoffor opening and closing said exit aperture, said tubular shaft havingmounted thereon a cylindrical float of rhomboid longitudinal sectionhaving a central opening of somewhat larger diameter than the diameterof the shaft itself, said float being adjustable in the verticaldirection, said float being further provided with inlet and outletapertures and a plurality of angular struts at predetermined distancesover its periphery, the upper ends of these struts bearing an adjustableannular ring, said tubular shaft having a plurality of inlet portsspaced at predetermined distances over its periphery and means foropening and closing said ports for the selective introduction of fluidinto said container, said container being suspended on said frame forvertical movement by a toggle system, said toggle system compsising aplurality of levers mounted radially on said container and pivoted onsaid frame, each lever having one end connected to the edge of saidcontainer and the other end adjacent said central rod, said central rodbeing provided with an annular shoulder for abutment with the ends ofsaid lever, thereby interconnecting the vertical movement of saidcontainer and said central rod in dependence upon the material withwhich the container is charged.

2. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the float isprovided with a peripheral annular ring of an elastic material.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,109,485 9/1914Terry 210 113 1,147,356 7/1915 Allen 209-160 1,155,473 10/1915 Dull 210113 1,271,134 7/1918 Clilford 210 113 1,468,374 9/1923 Burch 210 1131,841,444 1/1932 Hosking 209-160 2,025,412 12/1935 Handy 209 1582,150,226 3/1939 Kennedy 209-160 2,598,409 5/1952 Meckenstock 209-l58FRANK W. LUTTER, Primary Examiner.

HARRY B. THORNTON, ROBERT A. OLEARY,

Examiners.

1. APPARATUS FOR THE SEPARATION OF FLUID MIXTURES, SUCH AS MIXTURE OFSAND AND WATER, COMPRISING A FRAME AND A FUNNEL-SHAPED CONTAINER, SAIDCONTAINER BEING PROVIDED WITH AN EXIT APERTURE AND A DRAIN PIPE AT ITSAPEX, A TUBULAR CENTRAL SHAFT HAVING A VALVE MEMBER AT THE END THEREOFFOR OPENING AND CLOSING SAID EXIT APERTURE, SAID TUBULAR SHAFT HAVINGMOUNTED THEREON A CYLINDRICAL FLOAT OF RHOMBOID LONGITUDINAL SECTIONHAVING A CENTRAL OPENING OF SOMEWHAT LARGER DIAMETER THAN THE DIAMETEROF THE SHAFT ITSELF, SAID FLOAT BEING ADJUSTABLE IN THE VERTICALDIRECTION, SAID FLOAT BEING FURTHER PROVIDED WITH INLET AND OUTLETAPERTURES AND A PLURALITY OF ANGULAR STRUTS AT PREDETERMINED DISTANCESOVER ITS PERIPHERY, THE UPPER ENDS OF THESE STRUTS BEARING AN ADJUSTABLEANNULAR RING, SAID TUBULAR SHAFT HAVING A PLURALITY OF INLET PORTSSPACED AT PREDETERMINED DISTANCES OVER ITS PERIPHERY AND MEANS FOROPENING AND CLOSING SAID PORTS FOR THE SELECTIVE INTRODUCTION OF FLUIDINTO SAID CONTAINER, SAID CONTAINER BEING SUSPENDED